OTOROHANGA NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4189, 26 May 1939, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

TOPICS OF THE HOUR. HOSPITAL RATES INCREASED. (Our Resident Representative.) The Otorohanga Town Board have been advised by the Waikato Hospital Board that the Board’s levy for the ensuing year has been increased from £l9l to £2Bl—a £9O rise above last year’s levy. RED CROSS ASSOCIATION. The organising director of the Red Cross Association has advised the Otorohanga Town Board that it is intended to set up. a branch of the Association in the town. The Board have decided to give every encouragement. GOLF. The medal round, played on the the Otorohanga links, was won by W. R. Pilkington, 79—8—71. Mrs W. J. C. Patterson was the winner of the President’s trophy with 133 net. Mrs C. Irvine was the run-ner-up with 142 net. HOCKEY CLUB’S BALL. The Otorohanga Town Hall was comfortably filled on Tuesday*even ing on the occasion of the Men’s Hockey Club Ball. A visiting band provided the excellent dance music, and extras were played by Mr Ray Revell, of Te Kuiti. In the dancing competitions the Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss Dodunski and Mr G. Griffiths, with Mr E. Lee and partner runners-up. A very enjoyable supper arrangement was a feature, and the considerable net proceeds of the function will augment the funds of the club. PICTURE THEATRE COMPETITION. There are two picture theatres in Otorohanga—The Regent and the Town Hall Pictures—the latter being owner by the Municipality. The Town Board, who conduct the Municipal Pictures, recently offered to take a lease of The Regent, but the offer has been turned down, as was a previous offer from the Regent proprietary to take over control of the Municipal Pictures. As the Municipal Pictures’ net proceeds are devoted to town improvement purposes, ratepayers looked towards this source of income to keep the rates down. With soaring all-round costs the Board are now compelled to greatly increase the town rating—which now stands at lid in the £l—the highest levy yet made. LICENSE FEES. The Commissioner of Transport has agreed to the Town Board’s offer of half the license fees and 80 per cent, of new business, the traffic in the town to be controlled by the chief traffic officer’s staff. THE TERRITORIALS. The strength of the Otorohanga platoon of Territorials, as the result of recent recruiting, now stands at 34, which is .considered satisfactory for a small town. The platoon are holding a rifle and Lewis gun shoot on the local range this coming week-end. At present a number of recruits, are receiving their elementary training at Narrow Neck camp (Auckland). Parades are held every Monday night at the Friendly Societies’ Hall, Otorohanga. In addition to the new rate of pay, 12s per day, the men will receive a travelling allowance to pay for benzine, tyres, etc. A number of members of the local Defence Rifle Club have joined the sniper platoon of the Waikato Regiment, and are attached to the local platoon for training and general instruction.